December 1, 2009

Bravo to the Chicago Public Library!

How fortunate I felt to participate in CPL's annual book festival Book-A-Mania. Kudos to Bernadette Nowakowski who began the event for families fifteen years ago in 1994. Bernie said the celebration has grown in wondrous ways thanks to a dedicated and enthusiastic staff, city support, volunteers and the assistance of diverse funders including Target. This year’s art was based on Book Fiesta illustrated by the talented Rafael López. As children participated in all kinds of activities, they were earning a free book. I enjoyed chatting with volunteers including high school students in a service learning project and some employees of Kraft Foods. I chatted with Sonia Ocasio Bowman, librarian at Morton West High School in Berwyn, IL, who is working with community agencies to plan a Día event for her community. I’m always thrilled to see high schools participating in Día. I met student teachers Gissel Escobedo and Arlen Hernandez who are going to promote Día in Cicero, and I chatted with Kimberly-Celeste Boyd who’s going to promote Día in the Chicago Public Schools.
I left Book-A-Mania inspired by a library system committed to sharing bookjoy, to serving diverse families in creative ways.

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Pat Mora

Sharing Bookjoy

Bookjoy! I coined the word years ago and readers always smile when I say it. They know the private pleasure of settling down with a good book. I began this blog in spring 2008. Writing ZING! I thought about the creative process and how we are all creative, right? Since developing that part of ourselves enriches our lives and the lives of those around us, I decided to make creativity a major theme of this blog. Spring 2011, I started a Bookjoy Creativity Salon. Each month I'll write a post about my reading and writing, and I'll interview someone doing interesting creative work. I welcome your suggestions.

Be Creative!

This Month's ZING!

"Talented educators who hone the gift of making connections, respectful of every student, have transformative powers."